Inexpensive wearable sensor created from tissue paper

These small, Band Aid-sized sensors could have a variety of applications in various fields. (Image Source: University of Washington)

Scientists have used tissue paper to develop a Band-aid sized wearable sensor that can detect a pulse, a blink of an eye and other human movements. The sensor is light, flexible and inexpensive, with potential applications in health care, entertainment and robotics, researchers said.

Researchers at University of Washington (UW) in the US, showed that by tearing tissue paper loaded with nanoparticles and breaking its fibres, the paper acts as a sensor. It can detect a heartbeat, finger force, finger movement, eyeball movement and more, said Jae-Hyun Chung, associate professor at UW. “The major innovation is a disposable wearable sensor…